Teachers Share their Experiences While Living Abroad!

Cat cafes. Dog cafes. Domestic animal cafes are pretty well-known by now. I’ve had many friends from the US ask me about dog and cat cafes. I have a dog cafe near my home - a 5 minute walk away. Sure, they are adorable and nice to pet, but many people already have them as pets at home. What is far more exciting are raccoon cafes. I don’t know any friend that has a raccoon as a pet!

Feeling homesick is inevitable no matter where you are. Whether you are teaching in Korea, away at college, or even just a couple of hours away from home, it happens. So it isn’t something to fear, but rather something to prepare yourself for. Although some people, including myself, had a hard time being away from home upon first arriving in Korea, I have found my time abroad has really helped me become a more independent person and I am forever grateful for this experience. Below I will detail ways about how to not only become more independent and comfortable while living in Korea, but also, thanks to modern technology, how you can communicate with friend and family back home.

Cindy Ung is a ChungDahm Learning alumnus whom I met during our training week back in the winter of 2011. Not only have I had the privilege of being friends with Cindy, she also introduced me to Aclipse Recruiting. Originally from New York City, Cindy studied at Rutgers University where she was able to learn about teaching opportunities in Korea. Wanting to broaden her perspectives of the world, she lived and worked for ChungDahm in Seoul for two years and since leaving ChungDahm over 3 years ago, she has become a successful real estate agent in New York City. However, every year during her vacation she always opts to come back and visit Seoul for the week. When I ask her why doesn’t she go travel to another country, she always says that that Korea has become her second home. For many of us teaching in Korea, I think Korea will always have a special place in our hearts just like hers. Below are Cindy’s top 5 reasons why she continues to come back to Korea.

Korea is known for its history mixed with modern technology. People come to teach in Korea because the money is good and because they can still live somewhat live in a ‘Westernized’ manner. Even as that may be, most people who come will at least try to live up to the hype of partying “Gangnam Style” to see what it’s all about. However, if you are not into getting drunk off of cheap soju or from bottle service at one of Seoul’s premier clubs, here are four activities in Korea that you can do to enjoy your time while living in Seoul.

Cafe culture in Korea is taken seriously -- cafes are on every corner in my neighborhood. In addition to your run of the mill coffee shops, cafes with specific themes abound. I've posted previously about my visits to a board game cafe and the Mustoy cafe, but I have to admit, when I came to Korea, I was the most excited about the availability of a cafe theme I hadn't encountered before: animals.

If I wasn't so busy trying to take advantage of my weekend trips while teaching English in Korea, I would get myself a dog in a heartbeat. I have a dog back in America and I miss him so much. Sometimes I have an urge to go and get a dog, but I end up stopping myself by planning a trip.